"Shagané you are mine, Shagané…"
— Sergey Esenin
— Sergey Esenin
“Persian Motifs,” a celebrated cycle of poems by Sergey Yesenin, would not exist without Shagané Taliyan, the woman who inspired it.
This production was created through a close collaboration between actress and director, based entirely on archival and documentary materials. The work draws on the expertise of renowned philologist and Yesenin scholar Natalya Igorevna Shubnikova-Guseva. It also incorporates a careful study of the research of Vladimir Germanovich Belousov, who spent many years examining Sergei Yesenin’s literary legacy and corresponded with Shagané Talyan herself.
In the course of our work, we were able to trace and connect with Shagané’s own relatives. Among them is a highly respected Armenian clergyman, Father Kyuregh Talyan, whose voice can be heard in the performance itself. Shagané’s daughter, Kariné—now 87 and living in San Francisco—also became part of this journey. With their support, we gained access to rare and deeply personal materials: unique insights and photographs that ultimately shaped the writing and creation of the project.
The story begins in 1920s Batumi and unfolds across Ryazan and Yerevan, tracing the life of Shagané Nersesovna Taliyan—a teacher of Russian language and literature, an Armenian woman, and the poet’s muse. On stage, her inner world comes to life: love and loss, the deaths of her father, mother, and husband, and the quiet hope of a new love—one that was mutual, yet never became a shared destiny.
Shagané appears in six poems from Sergei Yesenin’s Persian Motifs. The line “Shagané, you are mine, Shagané” has become one of the most iconic in Russian poetry and his most recognizable lyrical refrain.
Shagané appears in six poems from Sergei Yesenin’s Persian Motifs. The line “Shagané, you are mine, Shagané” has become one of the most iconic in Russian poetry and his most recognizable lyrical refrain.
This production was created through a close collaboration between actress and director, based entirely on archival and documentary materials. The work draws on the expertise of renowned philologist and Yesenin scholar Natalya Igorevna Shubnikova-Guseva. It also incorporates a careful study of the research of Vladimir Germanovich Belousov, who spent many years examining Sergei Yesenin’s literary legacy and corresponded with Shagané Talyan herself.
In the course of our work, we were able to trace and connect with Shagané’s own relatives. Among them is a highly respected Armenian clergyman, Father Kyuregh Talyan, whose voice can be heard in the performance itself. Shagané’s daughter, Kariné—now 87 and living in San Francisco—also became part of this journey. With their support, we gained access to rare and deeply personal materials: unique insights and photographs that ultimately shaped the writing and creation of the project.
The story begins in 1920s Batumi and unfolds across Ryazan and Yerevan, tracing the life of Shagané Nersesovna Taliyan—a teacher of Russian language and literature, an Armenian woman, and the poet’s muse. On stage, her inner world comes to life: love and loss, the deaths of her father, mother, and husband, and the quiet hope of a new love—one that was mutual, yet never became a shared destiny.
Shagané appears in six poems from Sergei Yesenin’s Persian Motifs. The line “Shagané, you are mine, Shagané” has become one of the most iconic in Russian poetry and his most recognizable lyrical refrain.
Shagané appears in six poems from Sergei Yesenin’s Persian Motifs. The line “Shagané, you are mine, Shagané” has become one of the most iconic in Russian poetry and his most recognizable lyrical refrain.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
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TATA
KHACHATRIANACTRESS, CO-AUTHOR, PRODUCER
She graduated from Russia’s oldest and largest performing arts university, the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Moscow. From an early age, she performed at the St. Petersburg Theatre of Musical Comedy and the Mariinsky Theatre.
She later founded her own production company, where she leads the development and production of independent projects as a creative producer.
Her play “Shagane. The Poet’s Secret” is the result of extensive archival research and personal meetings with the living relatives of Shagane Talyaan — an Armenian teacher who inspired a cycle of love poems by Sergey Yesenin, one of Russia’s most celebrated lyrical poets. Their brief but significant encounter became part of literary history, immortalized in Yesenin’s work.
The production has been recognized with three national cultural awards for its contribution to preserving literary heritage and continues to play to sold-out audiences.
In February 2026, Tata premiered “Chanel No. Stravinsky”, a story about the relationship between two iconic figures — Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky. Tata performs the role of Chanel herself. The piece explores the emotional and personal cost a woman pays for the power to reshape culture and influence the world.
Today, Tata combines her work as a producer and actress, developing international projects across theatre and film.
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KARO
BALYANAUTHOR, DIRECTOR
An international theater director and Artistic Director of the World Shakespeare Festival in Yerevan.
He is also a lecturer at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema. Known for his bold creative vision, he continually explores new theatrical forms and has staged numerous productions in Armenia and internationally.
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Set Designer — Tigran Asaturov
Composers — Anna Efimova, Vyacheslav Ezhikov
Costume Designer — Mariam Muradyan
Video Artist — Igor Domashkevich, Rafael Erknapeshian
Sound Designers — Mikhail Pavlovskiy, Yaroslav Rozhin
Lighting Designer — Andrey Lebed
Assistant Director — Evgeniya Petrova
Assistants — Yulia Garifulina, Lilia Oropyan
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Media publications
WHAT PEOPLE
ARE SAYING
ARE SAYING
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A full house — always a good sign. Serious, mature work. It unfolds in a single breath.
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“I’m proud to have been part of bringing this production back to life. Believe in miracles—and come see it.”
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“A true biographical and literary investigation. And on stage, Yesenin comes alive.”
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“A powerful impression—deeply engaging.”
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“A project worthy of any stage in the world.”
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“So much tenderness in the end… it stayed with me.”
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“More than a performance—it’s the work of a true researcher.”
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“Impressive direction. A beautiful performance by the lead actress.”
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“It unfolds in a single breath—deeply emotional.”
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“Highly professional and truly impactful work.”
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“A demanding genre—for true connoisseurs. And important for culture.”